A HARDCORE of school run motorists are putting their children's lives at risk by not buckling them in, police warned today.

More than 600 drivers have been fined - a total of £18,000 - after an 11-day blitz across the West Midlands.

Police mounted patrols outside schools which had been identified as having a problem.

Senior officers warned they would not "turn a blind eye" to those who were failing to have their kids using seatbelts.

Letters had already been sent to parents to warn them that the operation would be taking place and to remind them of the potentially fatal consequences of not restraining their children.

But police were still stunned to catch a total of 627 parents allowing their children to be driven without wearing a seatbelt. All were issued with a £30 on-the-spot fine.

The Acocks Green area was the worst area with 128 parents fined, closely followed by West Bromwich, with 121 tickets issued.

PC Steve Rogers, from the Road Policing Unit, said: "This campaign was important to help protect children by reminding their parents that they are putting their lives at risk by not making them wear a seatbelt.

"Each year, a significant number of back seat passengers who do not wear their seatbelts are killed or seriously injured, and can also cause the deaths of people in the front of the vehicle in the event of a collision.

"The police will not turn a blind eye to parents who put their children at risk.

"If you or your children are not wearing a seatbelt and you are stopped by the police, you may be given a fixed penalty notice."